The aim of this study was to explore the information needs and preferred sources of information of Korean family caregivers of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Family caregivers of patients with ALS (n = 108) completed a structured questionnaire to assess their information needs and preferred sources of information.
Most of the caregivers obtained health information from Internet searches (89.8%) and healthcare professionals (85.2%). The source rated most helpful was healthcare professionals, and that rated least helpful was broadcast media. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/tas-120.html Family caregivers who were younger than 50 years and well educated and caregivers of bulbar-onset ALS patients had higher scores of information needs.
Providing information through healthcare professionals and self-support groups could enhance family caregiver satisfaction. Family caregivers who are older and less educated need to be more empowered to be involved in information-based caring, and caregivers of patients with bulbar-onset ALS have substantial information needs.
Providing information through healthcare professionals and self-support groups could enhance family caregiver satisfaction. Family caregivers who are older and less educated need to be more empowered to be involved in information-based caring, and caregivers of patients with bulbar-onset ALS have substantial information needs.Current evidence regarding the effectiveness and safety of localized heating after spinal surgery for pain, peripheral tissue perfusion, and wound healing is conflicting.
This study was a prospective, single-blind, randomized controlled trial; 58 adult patients were randomized to an experimental group or a control group after spinal decompression surgery. All participants received localized cooling on postoperative days 1 and 2. The experimental group received localized heating at the surgical wound on postoperative days 3 and 4, and the control group kept normothermia without localized heating. Outcome variables were evaluated 1 hour after surgery and on day 4.
Postoperative pain was significantly lower in the experimental versus control group (13.8 vs 23.0, P = .01). Skin perfusion was better in the experimental versus control group (4.7 vs 2.8, P = .001). There was no statistically significant difference in the wound healing status between the groups.
Localized heating can effectively relieve postoperative pain and improve skin perfusion. These results suggest that localized heating tailored to the wound healing process may be beneficial for patients undergoing spinal surgery.
Localized heating can effectively relieve postoperative pain and improve skin perfusion. These results suggest that localized heating tailored to the wound healing process may be beneficial for patients undergoing spinal surgery.Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant source of morbidity and mortality in children. Transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasound measures the cerebral arterial circulation allowing for the calculation of pulsatility indices (PIs) that provide an assessment of cerebral blood flow alterations. However, the use of PI in children with TBI is poorly understood and may be an important measure for the nursing care of children.
The purpose of this article is to define day-to-day PI change and to describe its relationship to injury characteristics and functional outcomes in children with TBI.
We performed a secondary analysis of a prospective observational parent study of 40 children aged 2 months to 15 years with mild or moderate-severe TBI who had serial TCDs. Sequential TCD PI measurements of day-to-day change revealed several consistencies among the TBI severity groups.
Day-to-day PI change was higher in children with a moderate-severe injury (40%) when compared with those with a mild injury (21%). Greater day-to-day PI change was seen in children whose Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended Pediatrics scores worsened (25%) compared with those who had an improved (19%) or unchanged (23%) scores.
This study is the first to report day-to-day PI change in children with TBI and provides early insights into anterior cerebral artery circulation alterations of children with TBI. Although further research is needed, this study provides early evidence that TCD may be a valuable noninvasive neuromonitoring option in the management of children with TBI.
This study is the first to report day-to-day PI change in children with TBI and provides early insights into anterior cerebral artery circulation alterations of children with TBI. Although further research is needed, this study provides early evidence that TCD may be a valuable noninvasive neuromonitoring option in the management of children with TBI.Closed reduction and percutaneous pinning is the treatment of choice for displaced pediatric phalangeal neck fractures. Multiple techniques have been described to address challenges in managing these unstable fractures. We describe our technique of closed reduction and percutaneous pinning, which avoids the physis and increases the wire insertion accuracy, minimizing the number of attempts and wire passes made at percutaneous pinning.Elbow stiffness is a common reason for consultation. In recent years, arthroscopic techniques in elbow surgery have progressed, but there are still some contraindications to performance of arthroscopic synovectomy and release in this joint (elbows with anatomic deformity after multiple procedures, malunion, presence of osteosynthesis material, severe stiffness of &gt;80 degrees, instability, or previous transposition of the ulnar nerve). Therefore, knowledge of a safe and reliable open approach to achieve elbow release and/or synovectomy is essential. We report the technical details of the modified lateral approach between extensor carpi radialis brevis and longus muscles, as well as the clinical results of 43 elbow release and/or synovectomy procedures, illustrating its feasibility. The modified lateral approach, providing visual control of the radial nerve and good anterior exposure of the elbow joint, is detailed. From 1994 to 2016, this approach was used in 43 release and/or synovectomy procedures of the elbow in 41 patients, 30 men and 11 women, with a mean age of 40.